Wrapped

Chapter 27

Nick

I hung up the phone and stared blankly at the screen. Saying 'I love you' a second time was, different. It didn't feel like how I did the first time I had said it. I felt overjoyed and as if I could just explode of happiness. This time, though, I felt incomplete, and a little weird. I do love Zack, with all my heart, but how come it felt so different? Saying it over the phone was probably the reason. I want to hold him close to me, look him in the eye, and say the few words.

Placing my phone down, I went into my living room, finding my mom sitting on the couch waiting for me to join her. She had asked me to come to her so we can have a conversation. Her expression told me that whatever she wanted to talk about, was serious.

Mom nodded her head towards an empty chair, signaling for me to take a seat. I obeyed and sat in the uncomfortable chair. "What did you need to talk about?" I asked and leaned back in the chair.

"I didn't give you that good of a reason of why we had to leave," She sighed and looked down at her hands.

So she was going to give me more details on why we left. I'm actually quite happy about this. All she really told me is that my dad is a bad person, she didn't tell me how he was bad or anything.

I nodded and stared at her, she seemed upset. Maybe her telling me the truth really pained her.

She let out a breath and looked into my eyes, "Your dad is a sociopath. He is addicted to pain killers and acid tablets. He was a drug dealer ever since you were just a baby. He would constantly come home drunk or narcotized. He was also an abuser, you must not remember but he would come at you with a fist, or when you were almost two, he would shake you around. He attempted to murder me a few times by choking me."

My mouth hung open. I didn't know this is what my dad was like. I only remember good times we had shared together.

"After I left him when you were four, we had a court date to see who would get custody of you. I tired to tell the judge and jury that he was a drug addict but they didn't believe me, saying I had no evidence. He got custody over you. I couldn't let it happen so I took you away and moved us to Maryland before he could do anything about it."

I tilted my head, how could I not remember any of this? She couldn't have been making it up, my mom doesn't lie to me...

"Ever since, your dad has been trying to get to you. He has some how been finding where we are, so I wanted us to start over by moving us here." She paused, taking another deep breath, "You understand, right, Nick?"

I swallowed and nodded. This is too overwhelming. It's almost scary even. But why can't I remember it? This seems like it would traumatize me.

"Why don't I remember?" I asked quietly.

My mom shrugged slightly and rose up from the couch, "I don't know," She began, "You must have just blocked it out of your memory." She began to walk down to her bedroom, leaving me. "I'm going to take us out to lunch," she called out, "Go wash up before we leave."

I slowly stood from the chair and walked to my bedroom. I guess blocking out the past was a good thing. If I didn't block it out, I would be a whole different person. So it was for the better.

As I entered my room, I heard a small beeping noise. I looked around and saw my phone screen flashing. I quickly realized that the noise was coming from my device, telling me that there was an incoming call.

Grabbing the phone, I looked at the screen and looked closely to see who was calling.

A smile grew onto my face. The caller was the one and only, Zack.

I clicked the 'talk' button and spoke through the speaker, "Hi, Zack!" I say happily.

"I love you, too," I heard his smooth voice say through the phone. There was a click, and he had hung up.